"Vino, sol y aire, y serás rico como nadie"
(With wine, sun and fresh air - you'll be richer than anyone)
Throw in some great Paradors, two wonderful Bodega Hotels, Spain wine tasting at it's finest, and what better way is there to experience, and enjoy one of the most truly 'Spanish' aspects of Spain - it's renowned wineries and their exciting wines?!
The "Wine and Paradors" Spain wine tour #1 will take you to two of Spain's premier wine regions; the La Rioja area, and the Ribera Del Duero area. You will visit wineries, and wine museums, and have multiple wine tastings in both of those D.O.'s (Denominacion de Origen) as well as in the up-and-coming Toro, and Rueda D.O.'s.
In your deluxe wine tour through these different and distinct wine areas, your Spain wine travel will take you to several outstanding wineries for wine tasting, and tours of their wine-making facilities. You'll visit two famous wine museums, as well as the 'in' spots for sampling wine and tapas in Madrid.
The Paradors at which you will stay are located in the heart of these wine regions and will provide the perfect base for exploration. Then - you'll also actually stay at two operating Bodegas and really get an "up close and personal" view of the full and intricate process of wine-making from vine to bottle.
The "Wine and Paradors" tours will take you into the world of Spanish wine, and what a fascinating trip it will be!
First part of the trip will take you to the wine regions of Rueda, and Toro:
The Rueda D.O.
This is perhaps Spain's most famous white wine producer (sharing the honor with Galicia's Albariño producers, and of course the sherry region of Andalucia). The famous Riojan house of Marques de Riscal moved their white wine production to Rueda in the early 70's and introduced new processes to the area that changed and revolutionized the white wine of previous decades.
* Wine tip: The Denominación de Origen (D.O.) is a quality designation controlled by regulating agencies. There are 60+ (changes occasionally) of these designated and delineated areas in Spain - each with their 'consejo regulador' that keeps a strict hold on the practices of the wineries in the area. This assures a certain minimum level of quality standards.
The whites of Rueda are now wines of very high quality. The Verdejo grape has been coaxed into producing wines with great fragrance - light, dry, slightly acidic, and fruity. The Cabernet Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc grape are also authorized varieties for the Rueda Denominacion. You will see "Rueda" on the label - meaning a minimum of 50% Verdejo grapes - and you'll also see "Rueda Superior" - meaning a minimum of 85% Verdejo.
The little town of Rueda is just off the main road coming up from Madrid (A-6), and only a few kilometers south of Tordesillas where you will be staying. You could stop by one of the local bars on the main street - like the Leones or the Arenal - have a leisurely 'copa' of Rueda Superior, and then be on your way to check-in at Parador Tordesillas.
* Wine tip: If you encounter a bottle of Martinsancho from the legendary winery of Angel Rodriguez - buy it! This is a 'hand-made' wine of the finest quality produced by one man from vines he has tended his whole life - and whose father and grandfather also tended in their time. This wine is made in a style and using processes from another epoch.
The Toro D.O.
A short drive of 24 miles from the Parador Tordesillas will bring you to the famous wine town of Toro in the heart of the Toro D.O.. It's a nice town for a visit: It has a beautiful old church, and a traditionally arcaded main plaza where you'll find numerous bars for sampling the wines of the region.
* Trip tip: While in Toro, wander over to the Hotel Juan II for lunch. Be sure and take in the remarkable views out over the plain of the Duero river from the hotel's terrace . . . this is the Spain for true aficionados!
The Toro region has traditionally been known for producing big, heavy-bodied red wines of high alcohol content. This D.O. has now stepped into the 'new' wine age and is producing a finer style that appeals to the refined tastes of today's wine connoisseurs. The grape is the Tinto de Toro (a local variety of Tempranillo). The only other grape permitted by the DO is the Garnacha.
Though the modern Toro wines have been toned-down a bit as mentioned above - some of the Reservas and Gran Reservas can be real 'blockbusters' - as bold as wine gets and with a natural alcohol content of 14% and higher!
Here we will arrange for you a visit to one of the most famous of the Toro wineries (below). There will be free wine tasting, and you'll be able to wander around the grounds at yoru leisure.
The Parador Tordesillas will be your base for the first two days of the wine tour. It is a former ancestral home near the historical town of Tordesillas, an important crossroads since Roman times. The countryside here is green and nature offers a unique landscape. A beautiful pine grove, with a spacious, well cared-for garden, surrounds the Parador. There is an ambience of tranquility and calm amid the peacefulness of the natural spaces that surround. The Castilian style dominates in both the external lines, and in the interior where many of the rooms contain valuable antiques.
The Parador has recently undergone a multi-million Euro refurbishment, and now presents the visitor with sparkling facilities throughout.
The small, pretty town of Tordesillas holds a very large place in history. Here, in 1494, Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordesillas which divided the New World between them!
From this base, you can drive the short distance down to Rueda, or over to Toro.
* Trip tip: Stop off in Medina Del Campo on the drive up from Madrid (about 24 kilometers before you get to Tordesillas - just outside of town near the railway tracks) and see the wonderful castle, "La Mota."
Transitioning to the 2nd stage of your trip in the La Rioja area, you'll first go a bit north to stop off for a night at one of Spain's finest hotels - the Parador of Leon.
The Parador Leon (official name is Parador Hostal San Marcos) is one of the most unique hotels in the world. It has a matchless Plateresque facade and an ornate Baroque interior. Staying here is a dream come true for those who really appreciate traditional architectural design at its finest. Parador Leon is the epitome of style.
The true original name of this remarkable building was, La Casa Primada de la Orden de Santiago. Re-construction and expansion was begun in 1515. At that time, there was already a pilgrim's hostal on this site that had been founded by a pious local princess, Infanta Doña Sancha. It has remained a hostelery for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, and also became the seat of a military order of priests, the Order of Saint James. During the times of the Crusades it also served as a monastery: It has also been a civilian prison, a church, an army barracks and a horse stables and stud farm. Now - it is one of the very finest Paradors in the Parador chain.
The Leon Parador surrounds a magnificent cloister that itself is filled with manicured gardens and topped by a colonnaded balcony. It's architectural style is primarily Plateresque on the outside - a style that was a transition from Gothic to Renaissance - and Baroque on the inside.
The city of Leon began as a base for Roman soldiers who were guarding the old gold mines west of the city. It was the garrison for the seventh legion and got it's name for the Latin word for legion - legio. It was later the capital of Asturias Y Leon, and was one of the most important stops on the Camino de Santiago. It remains today a place that has a subtle, yet strong attraction for the traveler. Leon has much to see . . .
Interesting excursions from Parador Leon into the city:
- Don't miss the spectacular Gothic Cathedral - and try to see it at night as well - when it is fully lit up.
- The Casa Botines, designed by the genius architect, Antonio Gaudi.
- The Real Basilica de San Isidro, an absolute gem of the Romanesque style.
- The 17th century Plaza Mayor, and the Plaza Santa Maria.
- The Parador Leon itself is one of the highlights of the city - you'll spend many pleasant hours just wandering and discovering its many fascinating areas - including its own museum.
Then on to the La Rioja for your Rioja wine tour. . .
The Rioja D.O.Ca - though there are dozens of Spain wine regions, this is the big daddy of them all. The Rioja D.O. gets an extra couple of initials - one of only two wine regions in all of Spain to get the coveted Ca. (Calificada) classification denoting an extra measure of quality control - and thus more consistently superior wines overall.
When most folks talk about, "Spain wine country," they usually mean the Rioja wine region.
There are so many wineries in this wine region - one could spend many months trying, and still not visit them all! The premier wine houses are here; Marqués de Riscal, Lopez de Heredia, Marqués de Murrieta and others. The beginning of fine Spanish wine started here around 1860 (of course there were many centuries of 'ordinary' wine-making before that) as a direct result of the phylloxera plague that killed every vine in France. The great French vintners came hastily down to this area and introduced their 'modern' (then) techniques into a land already perfect for growing grapes - and the rest is history!
The Rioja D.O. is divided into 3 parts; Rioja Baja, Rioja Alta, and Rioja Alavesa. All produce the Bordeaux-style reds that have made the area internationally famous, yet innumerable different tastes are coaxed from the mixture of the grape varieties prevalent here: These are; Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano and Cabernet.
* Wine Tip: Try to sample some of the "new-wave" designer wines of the area from the likes of; Bodegas Roda, Senorio de San Vicente, or Artadi-Cosecheros Alaveses - and be prepared for a flavor-bomb that will get you to wondering about what Rioja wines can really be!
In this La Rioja part of your trip - we'll arrange your visit to places where you'll see sights, and experience wine-related things that are completely fascinating, even other-worldly . . . so get ready!
While in the Rioja, you'll visit a famous wine museum (this is really an incredible experience for wine lovers), have lunch at a famous bodega, see the world's most modern winery, visit a couple of other bodegas for wine tasting, and stay two nights at an operating Bodega for an 'insider' experience of what makes a winery tick.
